Multiplex detector signal boosters

ABSTRACT

A signal booster may include a first path that may include a first tap circuit. The first path may be coupled between a first port and a second port and may be configured to amplify a first signal. The signal booster may also include a second path that includes a second tap circuit. The second path may be coupled between the first port and the second port and may be configured to amplify a second signal. The signal booster may also include a radio frequency detector circuit and a switch circuit. The switch circuit may be configured to switch between coupling the radio frequency detector circuit to the first tap circuit and coupling the radio frequency detector circuit to the second tap circuit to provide either a portion of the first signal or a portion of the second signal to the radio frequency detector circuit.

FIELD

The embodiments discussed herein are related to multiplex detectorsignal boosters.

BACKGROUND

In a wireless communication system, communication may occur as uplinkcommunications and downlink communications. Uplink communications mayrefer to communications that originate at a wireless communicationdevice (referred to hereinafter as “wireless device”) and that aretransmitted to an access point (e.g., base station, remote radio head,wireless router, etc.) associated with the wireless communicationsystem. Downlink communications may refer to communications from theaccess point to the wireless device.

Sometimes a wireless device in a wireless communication system may bepositioned such that it may not receive uplink and/or downlinkcommunications from an access point at a desired power level. In thesesituations, a user of the wireless device may employ a signal booster toboost the uplink and/or downlink communications.

The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments thatsolve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such asthose described above. Rather, this background is only provided toillustrate one example technology area where some embodiments describedherein may be practiced.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of one or more embodiments, a signal booster mayinclude a first amplification path that may include a first tap circuit.The first amplification path may be coupled between a first port and asecond port and may be configured to amplify a first signal in awireless communication network. The signal booster may also include asecond amplification path that may include a second tap circuit. Thesecond amplification path may be coupled between the first port and thesecond port and may be configured to amplify a second signal in thewireless communication network. The signal booster may also include aradio frequency detector circuit and a switch circuit. The switchcircuit may be coupled to the first tap circuit, to the second tapcircuit, and to the radio frequency detector circuit. The switch circuitmay be configured to switch between coupling the radio frequencydetector circuit to the first tap circuit and coupling the radiofrequency detector circuit to the second tap circuit to provide either aportion of the first signal or a portion of the second signal to theradio frequency detector circuit.

According to an aspect of one or more embodiments, a signal booster isdisclosed that may include a first port and a second port. The signalbooster may also include a first uplink amplification path that mayinclude a first uplink tap circuit. The first uplink amplification pathmay be coupled between the first port and the second port and may beconfigured to pass a first uplink signal of a first frequency in awireless communication network. The signal booster may also include asecond uplink amplification path that includes a second uplink tapcircuit. The second uplink amplification path may be coupled between thefirst port and the second port and may be configured to pass a seconduplink signal of a second frequency in the wireless communicationnetwork.

The signal booster may also include an uplink radio frequency detectorcircuit and an uplink switch circuit coupled to the first uplink tapcircuit, to the second uplink tap circuit, and to uplink radio frequencydetector circuit. The uplink switch circuit may be configured to switchbetween coupling the uplink radio frequency detector circuit to thefirst uplink tap circuit and coupling the uplink radio frequencydetector circuit to the second uplink tap circuit to provide either aportion of the first uplink signal or a portion of the second uplinksignal to the uplink radio frequency detector circuit.

The signal booster may also include a first downlink amplification paththat includes a first downlink tap circuit. The first downlinkamplification path may be coupled between the first port and the secondport and may be configured to pass a first downlink signal of a thirdfrequency in the wireless communication network. The signal booster mayalso include a second downlink amplification path that includes a seconddownlink tap circuit. The second downlink amplification path may becoupled between the first port and the second port and may be configuredto pass a second downlink signal of a fourth frequency in the wirelesscommunication network.

The signal booster may also include a downlink radio frequency detectorcircuit and a downlink switch circuit coupled to the first downlink tapcircuit, to the second downlink tap circuit, and to the downlink radiofrequency detector circuit. The downlink switch circuit may beconfigured to switch between coupling the downlink radio frequencydetector circuit to the first downlink tap circuit and coupling thedownlink radio frequency detector circuit to the second downlink tapcircuit to provide either a portion of the first downlink signal or aportion of the second downlink signal to the downlink radio frequencydetector circuit.

According to an aspect of one or more embodiments, a method is disclosedthat includes amplifying a first signal in a first amplification pathcoupled between a first port and a second port of a signal booster. Themethod also includes amplifying a second signal in a secondamplification path coupled between the first port and the second port ofthe signal booster. The method also includes coupling a radio frequencydetector to the first amplification path to detect a power level of thefirst signal. The method also include decoupling the radio frequencydetector from the first amplification path and coupling the radiofrequency detector to the second amplification path to detect a powerlevel of the second signal.

The object and advantages of the embodiments will be realized andachieved at least by the elements, features, and combinationsparticularly pointed out in the claims. It is to be understood that boththe foregoing general description and the following detailed descriptionare exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention,as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Example embodiments will be described and explained with additionalspecificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example wireless communication system;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example signal booster with a multiplex detector;

FIG. 3 illustrates another example signal booster with a multiplexdetector;

FIG. 4A illustrates another example signal booster with a multiplexdetector;

FIG. 4B illustrates another example signal booster with a multiplexdetector; and

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an example method of detecting signals in asignal booster.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

According to one or more embodiments, a signal booster may include afirst port and a second port. The first port may be coupled to anoutside antenna that is configured to receive downlinks signals from awireless communication access point, such as a base station or remoteradio head, and to transmit uplink signals to a wireless communicationaccess point. The second port may be coupled to an inside antenna thatis configured to receive uplink signals from a wireless device, such asa cellular phone or tablet, and to transmit downlink signals to thewireless device. The signal booster may include a first amplificationpath that includes a first tap circuit. The first amplification path maybe coupled between the first port and the second port and may beconfigured to amplify the downlink signals. The signal booster mayfurther include a second amplification path that includes a second tapcircuit. The second amplification path may be coupled between the firstport and the second port and may be configured to amplify the uplinksignals.

The signal booster may further include a radio frequency detectorcircuit and a switch circuit coupled to the first tap circuit, to thesecond tap circuit, and to the radio frequency detector circuit. Theswitch circuit may be configured to switch between coupling the radiofrequency detector circuit to the first tap circuit and coupling theradio frequency detector circuit to the second tap circuit to provideeither a portion of the downlink signal or a portion of the uplinksignal to the radio frequency detector. The radio frequency detector mayprovide an indication of the strength of the downlink signal and thestrength of the uplink signal to a control unit.

The control unit may be configured to control the amplification appliedby the first and second amplification paths to the downlink and uplinksignals, respectively. In this manner, the signal booster may adjust theamplification of the downlink and uplink signals for any reasons, suchas to reduce antenna-to-antenna and internal oscillations, to boostsignal strength, to reduce a noise floor at the wireless communicationaccess point, among other reasons. By switching between coupling theradio frequency detector circuit to the first tap circuit and couplingthe radio frequency detector circuit to the second tap circuit, thesignal booster may reduce a number of radio frequency detector circuitsin the signal booster. Reducing the number of radio frequency detectorcircuits may reduce cost, decrease size, and may provide other benefitsas well.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example wireless communication system 100(referred to hereinafter as “system 100”), arranged in accordance withat least some embodiments described in this disclosure. The system 100may be configured to provide wireless communication services to wirelessdevices, such as a wireless device 106 via an access point 104. Thesystem 100 may further include a bidirectional signal booster 102(referred to hereinafter as “the signal booster 102”). The signalbooster 102 may be any suitable system, device, or apparatus configuredto receive wireless signals (e.g., radio frequency (RF) signalscommunicated in one or more frequency bands) communicated between theaccess point 104 and the wireless device 106. The signal booster 102 maybe configured to amplify, mute, repeat, filter, and/or otherwise processthe received wireless signals and may be configured to re-transmit theprocessed wireless signals. Although not expressly illustrated in FIG.1, the system 100 may include any number of access points 104 configuredto provide wireless communication services to any number of wirelessdevices 106. In these and other embodiments, the signal booster 102 maycommunicated wireless signals from multiple access points 104 tomultiple different wireless devices 106, from a single access point 104to multiple different wireless devices 106, or from multiple accesspoints 104 to one wireless device 106.

The wireless communication services provided by the system 100 mayinclude voice services, data services, messaging services, and/or anysuitable combination thereof. The system 100 may include a FrequencyDivision Duplexing (FDD) network, a Frequency Division Multiple Access(FDMA) network, an Orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA) network, a Code DivisionMultiple Access (CDMA) network, a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA)network, a Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) network, a FrequencyHopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) network, and/or some other wirelesscommunication network. In some embodiments, the system 100 may beconfigured to operate as a second generation (2G) wireless communicationnetwork, a third generation (3G) wireless communication network, afourth generation (4G) wireless communication network, a Wi-Fi network,or some other communication network. In these or other embodiments, thesystem 100 may be configured to operate as a Long Term Evolution (LTE)or LTE Advanced wireless communication network.

The access point 104 may be any suitable wireless network communicationpoint and may include, by way of example but not limitation, a basestation, a remote radio head (RRH), a satellite, a wireless router, orany other suitable communication point. The wireless device 106 may beany device that may use the system 100 to obtain wireless communicationservices and may include, by way of example and not limitation, mobileaccess terminals, such as a cellular phone, a smartphone, a personaldata assistant (PDA), a laptop computer, a tablet computer, amongothers; non-mobile access terminals, such as a personal computer, awireless router, a modem, among others; or any other similar deviceconfigured to communicate within the system 100.

As wireless signals propagate between the access point 104 and thewireless device 106, the wireless signals may be affected during thepropagation such that, in some instances, the wireless signals may besubstantially degraded. The signal degradation may result in the accesspoint 104 or the wireless device 106 not receiving, detecting, ordecoding information from the wireless signals. Therefore, the signalbooster 102 may be configured to increase the power of and/or improvethe signal quality of the wireless signals such that the communicationof the wireless signals between the access point 104 and the wirelessdevice 106 may be improved.

In some embodiments, the signal booster 102 may receive a wirelesssignal communicated between the access point 104 and the wireless device106 and may convert the wireless signal into an electrical signal (e.g.,via an antenna). The signal booster 102 may be configured to amplify theelectrical signal and the amplified electrical signal may be convertedinto an amplified wireless signal (e.g., via an antenna) that may betransmitted. The signal booster 102 may amplify the electrical signal byapplying a gain to the electrical signal. The gain may be a set gain ora variable gain, and may be less than, equal to, or greater than one.Therefore, in the present disclosure, the term “amplify” may refer toapplying any gain to a wireless signal including gains that are lessthan one.

In some embodiments, the signal booster 102 may adjust the gain based onconditions associated with communicating the wireless signals (e.g.,providing noise floor protection in the system 100, internal oscillationof the signal booster 102, external oscillation (e.g., antenna toantenna oscillations) of the signal booster 102, and/or overloadprotection at the access point 104). In these and other embodiments, thesignal booster 102 may adjust the gain in real time. The signal booster102 may also filter out noise associated with the received wirelesssignal such that the retransmitted wireless signal may be a cleanersignal than the received wireless signal. Therefore, the signal booster102 may improve the communication of wireless signals between the accesspoint 104 and the wireless device 106.

For example, the wireless device 106 may communicate a wireless uplinksignal 112 intended for reception by the access point 104 and a firstantenna 108 may be configured to receive the wireless uplink signal 112.The first antenna 108 may be configured to convert the received wirelessuplink signal 112 into an electrical uplink signal. Additionally, thefirst antenna 108 may be communicatively coupled to a first interfaceport (not expressly depicted in FIG. 1) of the signal booster 102 suchthat the signal booster 102 may receive the electrical uplink signalfrom the first antenna 108 at the first interface port. An interfaceport may be any suitable port configured to interface the signal booster102 with another device (e.g., an antenna, a modem, another signalbooster, etc.) through a wired connection from which the signal booster102 may receive a signal and/or to which the signal booster 102 maycommunicate a signal.

In some embodiments, the signal booster 102 may be configured to apply again to the electrical uplink signal to amplify the electrical uplinksignal. In the illustrated embodiment, the signal booster 102 may directthe amplified electrical uplink signal toward a second interface port(not expressly depicted in FIG. 1) of the signal booster 102 that may becommunicatively coupled to a second antenna 110. The second antenna 110may be configured to receive the amplified electrical uplink signal fromthe second interface port and may convert the amplified electricaluplink signal into an amplified wireless uplink signal 114 that may alsobe transmitted by the second antenna 110. The amplified wireless uplinksignal 114 may then be received by the access point 104.

In some embodiments, the signal booster 102 may also be configured tofilter the electrical uplink signal to remove at least some noiseassociated with the received wireless uplink signal 112. Consequently,the amplified wireless uplink signal 114 may have a bettersignal-to-noise ratio (SNR) than the wireless uplink signal 112 that maybe received by the first antenna 108. Accordingly, the signal booster102 may be configured to improve the communication of uplink signalsbetween the access point 104 and the wireless device 106. The use of theterm “uplink signal,” without specifying wireless or electrical uplinksignals, may refer to wireless uplink signals or electrical uplinksignals. Additionally, the use of the term “uplink signal,” withoutspecifying may include uplink signals between the access point 104 andthe signal booster 102 and between the signal booster 102 and thewireless device 106. Furthermore, in some embodiments, uplink signalsmay be referred to as first direction signals.

As another example, the access point 104 may communicate a wirelessdownlink signal 116 intended for the wireless device 106 and the secondantenna 110 may be configured to receive the wireless downlink signal116. The second antenna 110 may convert the received wireless downlinksignal 116 into an electrical downlink signal such that the electricaldownlink signal may be received at the second interface port of thesignal booster 102. In some embodiments, the signal booster 102 may beconfigured to apply a gain to the electrical downlink signal to amplifythe electrical downlink signal. The signal booster 102 may also beconfigured to direct the amplified electrical downlink signal toward thefirst interface port of the signal booster 102 such that the firstantenna 108 may receive the amplified electrical downlink signal. Thefirst antenna 108 may be configured to convert the amplified electricaldownlink signal into an amplified wireless downlink signal 118 that mayalso be transmitted by the first antenna 108. The amplified wirelessdownlink signal 118 may then be received by the wireless device 106.

In some embodiments, the signal booster 102 may also be configured tofilter the electrical downlink signal to remove at least some noiseassociated with the received wireless downlink signal 116. Therefore,the amplified wireless downlink signal 118 may have a better SNR thanthe wireless downlink signal 116 received by the second antenna 110.Accordingly, the signal booster 102 may also be configured to improvethe communication of downlink signals, which may be second directionsignals, between the access point 104 and the wireless device 106. Theuse of the term “downlink signal,” without specifying wireless orelectrical downlink signals Additionally, the use of the term “downlinksignal,” without specifying may include downlink signals between theaccess point 104 and the signal booster 102 and between the signalbooster 102 and the wireless device 106. Furthermore, in someembodiments, downlink signals may be referred to as second directionsignals.

Modifications may be made to the system 100 without departing from thescope of the present disclosure. For example, in some embodiments, thedistance between the signal booster 102 and the wireless device 106 maybe relatively close as compared to the distance between the signalbooster 102 and the access point 104. Further, the system 100 mayinclude any number of signal boosters 102, access points 104, and/orwireless devices 106. Additionally, in some embodiments, the signalbooster 102 may be coupled to multiple antennas, like the first antenna108, that are configured to communicate with wireless devices. Also, insome embodiments, the signal booster 102 may be included in a cradleconfigured to hold the wireless device 106. Additionally, in someembodiments, the signal booster 102 may be configured to communicatewith the wireless device 106 via wired communications (e.g., usingelectrical signals communicated over a wire) instead of wirelesscommunications (e.g., via wireless signals).

Additionally or alternately, although the signal booster 102 isillustrated and described with respect to performing operations withrespect to wireless communications such as receiving and transmittingwireless signals via the first antenna 108 and the second antenna 110,the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to such applications.For example, in some embodiments, the signal booster 102 (or othersignal boosters described herein) may be configured to perform similaroperations with respect to communications that are not necessarilywireless, such as processing signals that may be received and/ortransmitted via one or more modems or other signal boosterscommunicatively coupled to the interface ports of the signal booster 102via a wired connection.

Additionally or alternately, the signal booster 102 may be configured toperform operations on multiple different frequency communication bands.For example, the communication spectrum for wireless communications mayinclude multiple bands that include uplink channels and downlinkchannels. In these and other embodiments, the signal booster 102 mayoperate to boost uplink and downlink signals throughout the channels ofmultiple frequency bands simultaneously.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example signal booster 200 with a multiplexdetector, arranged in accordance with at least some embodimentsdescribed in this disclosure. In some embodiments, the signal booster200 may be part of a wireless communication system, such as the wirelesscommunication system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 and may operate in asimilar manner as the signal booster 102 of FIG. 1.

The signal booster 200 may include a first interface port 203 and asecond interface port 207. The first interface port 203 may be coupledto a first antenna 204. The first antenna 204 may be configured toreceive downlink signals from a wireless communication access point andto transmit uplink signals to the wireless communication access point.The second interface port 207 may be coupled to a second antenna 208.The second antenna 208 may be configured to receive uplink signals froma wireless device and to transmit downlink signals to the wirelessdevice.

The signal booster 200 may also include a first duplexer 202 coupled tothe first interface port 203 and a second duplexer 206 coupled to thesecond interface port. The signal booster 200 may further include adownlink amplification path 210 coupled between the first and secondduplexers 202 and 206 and an uplink amplification path 220 coupledbetween the first and second duplexers 202 and 206. The signal booster200 may further include a switch circuit 230, a radio frequency detectorcircuit 240 (referred to herein as the RF detector circuit 240), and acontrol unit 250. In some embodiments, the switch circuit 230 and the RFdetector circuit 240 together may be referred to as a multiplexdetector.

The downlink amplification path 210 may include a first downlinkamplifier circuit 212 a, a first downlink filter circuit 214 a, a seconddownlink amplifier circuit 212 b, a second downlink filter circuit 214b, a first tap circuit 216, and a third downlink amplifier circuit 212c. The first downlink amplifier circuit 212 a, the second downlinkamplifier circuit 212 b, and third downlink amplifier circuit 212 c maybe referred to herein as the downlink amplifier circuits 212. Each ofthe downlink amplifier circuits 212 may include one or more poweramplifiers, low noise amplifiers, digital or analog attenuators, amongother attenuation or amplification circuits or devices. Each of thedownlink amplifier circuits 212 may be configured to apply anamplification to a downlink signal passing through the signal booster200. In these and other embodiments, the amplification may be one orgreater or less than one. In some embodiments, an amplification of oneor more of the downlink amplifier circuits 212 may be variable. In theseand other embodiments, the gain of the one or more of the downlinkamplifier circuits 212 that is variable may be controlled by the controlunit 250.

The first downlink filter circuit 214 a and the second downlink filtercircuit 214 b may each include one or more low pass, high pass, or bandpass filters configured to pass frequencies to be amplified orattenuated by the signal booster 200 and filter out other frequencies.

The first downlink amplifier circuit 212 a may be coupled to the outputof the first duplexer 202. The first downlink filter circuit 214 a maybe coupled to the output of the first downlink amplifier circuit 212 a.The second downlink amplifier circuit 212 b may be coupled to the outputof the first downlink filter circuit 214 a. The second downlink filtercircuit 214 b may be coupled to the output of the second downlinkamplifier circuit 212 b. The first tap circuit 216 may be coupled to theoutput of the second downlink filter circuit 214 b. The third downlinkamplifier circuit 212 c may be coupled to the first tap circuit 216.

The first tap circuit 216 may be coupled to the switch circuit 230. Thefirst tap circuit 216 may be configured to divert a portion of adownlink signal in the downlink amplification path 210 toward the switchcircuit 230. The first tap circuit 216 may be further configured to passthe remaining portion of the downlink signal to the third downlinkamplifier circuit 212 c for amplification. In some embodiments, thefirst tap circuit 216 may include a resistor, a splitter, a capacitor, adirectional coupler, or some other circuit or circuit component.

The uplink amplification path 220 may include a first uplink amplifiercircuit 222 a, a first uplink filter circuit 224 a, a second uplinkamplifier circuit 222 b, a second uplink filter circuit 224 b, a secondtap circuit 226, and a third uplink amplifier circuit 222 c.

The first uplink amplifier circuit 222 a, the second uplink amplifiercircuit 222 b, and third uplink amplifier circuit 222 c may be referredto herein as the uplink amplifier circuits 222. Each of the uplinkamplifier circuits 222 may include one or more power amplifiers, lownoise amplifiers, digital or analog attenuators, among other attenuationor amplification circuits or devices. Each of the uplink amplifiercircuits 222 may be configured to apply an amplification to an uplinksignal passing through the signal booster 200. In these and otherembodiments, the amplification may be one or greater or less than one.In some embodiments, an amplification of one or more of the uplinkamplifier circuits 222 may be variable. In these and other embodiments,the gain of the one or more of the uplink amplifier circuits 222 that isvariable may be controlled by the control unit 250.

The first uplink filter circuit 224 a and the second uplink filtercircuit 224 b may each include one or more low pass, high pass, or bandpass filters configured to pass frequencies to be amplified orattenuated by the signal booster 200 and filter out other frequencies.

The first uplink amplifier circuit 222 a may be coupled to the output ofthe first duplexer 202. The first uplink filter circuit 224 a may becoupled to the output of the first uplink amplifier circuit 222 a. Thesecond uplink amplifier circuit 222 b may be coupled to the output ofthe first uplink filter circuit 224 a. The second uplink filter circuit224 b may be coupled to the output of the second uplink amplifiercircuit 222 b. The second tap circuit 226 may be coupled to the outputof the second uplink filter circuit 224 b. The third uplink amplifiercircuit 222 c may be coupled to the second tap circuit 226.

The second tap circuit 226 may be coupled to the switch circuit 230. Thesecond tap circuit 226 may be configured to divert a portion of anuplink signal in the uplink amplification path 220 toward the switchcircuit 230. The second tap circuit 226 may be further configured topass the remaining portion of the uplink signal to the third uplinkamplifier circuit 222 c for amplification. In some embodiments, thesecond tap circuit 226 may include a resistor, a splitter, a capacitor,a directional coupler, or some other circuit or circuit component. Insome embodiments, the first and second tap circuits 216 and 226 mayinclude the same components or different components.

The switch circuit 230 may be coupled to the first tap circuit 216, thesecond tap circuit 226, and the RF detector circuit 240. The switchcircuit 230 may be configured to switch between electrically couplingthe RF detector circuit 240 to the first tap circuit 216 andelectrically coupling the RF detector circuit 240 to the second tapcircuit 226 to provide either a portion of the downlink signal or aportion of the uplink signal to the RF detector circuit 240. In someembodiments, the switch circuit 230 may electrically couple the firstand second tap circuits 216 and 226 to the RF detector circuit 240 forequal alternating periods. Alternately or additionally, the switchcircuit 230 may couple the first and second tap circuits 216 and 226 tothe RF detector circuit 240 for unequal alternating periods, randomperiods, or following some other sequence.

In some embodiments, the switch circuit 230 may continue to receive aportion of the uplink and downlink signals from the first and second tapcircuits 216 and 226 even when the first and second tap circuits 216 and226 are not electrically coupled to the RF detector circuit 240. Forexample, when the first tap circuit 216 is electrically coupled to theRF detector circuit 240 and providing a portion of a downlink signal tothe RF detector circuit 240, the second tap circuit 226 may also beproviding a portion of an uplink signal to the switch circuit 230. Inthese and other embodiments, the switch circuit 230 may isolate theportion of the uplink signal from the RF detector circuit 240 and fromthe downlink amplification path 210. In some embodiments, the switchcircuit 230 may ground the uplink or downlink signal not being passed tothe RF detector circuit 240. In some embodiments, the switch circuit 230may include a tri-state. In the tri-state, the switch circuit 230 maynot electrically couple either one of the first and second tap circuits216 and 226 to the RF detector circuit 240.

In some embodiments, the switch circuit 230 may be controlled by thecontrol unit 250. In these and other embodiments, the switch circuit 230may couple the RF detector circuit 240 to one of the first and secondtap circuits 216 and 226 based on a command from the control unit 250.

The RF detector circuit 240 may be coupled to the control unit 250 andthe switch circuit 230 and configured to receive a portion of a downlinksignal from the first tap circuit 216 and a portion of an uplink signalfrom the second tap circuit 226. In some embodiments, the RF detectorcircuit 240 may not receive the portion of the downlink signal from thefirst tap circuit 216 and the portion of the uplink signal from thesecond tap circuit 226 at the same time but at different times. In theseand other embodiments, the RF detector circuit 240 may be configured todetect a power level of the portions of the downlink and uplink signals.The RF detector circuit 240 may provide the detected power levels to thecontrol unit 250. In some embodiments, the RF detector circuit 240 mayinclude a diode, a log detector, or some other radio frequency detectioncircuit components.

The control unit 250 may be configured to receive the detected powerlevels of the downlink and uplink signals in the signal booster 200.Based on the detected power levels of the downlink signals, the controlunit 250 may adjust an amplification applied to the downlink signal inthe downlink amplification path 210. For example, the control unit 250may be configured to adjust the amplification in one or more of thedownlink amplification circuits 212.

Based on the detected power levels of the uplink signals, the controlunit 250 may adjust an amplification applied to the uplink signal in theuplink amplification path 220. For example, the control unit 250 may beconfigured to adjust the amplification in one or more of the uplinkamplifier circuits 222. Thus, the control unit 250 may adjust theamplification in the uplink and downlink amplification paths 210 and 220independently using information from the single RF detector circuit 240.

In some embodiments, the control unit 250 may adjust the amplificationin the uplink and downlink amplification paths 210 and 220 as part of afeedback control loop that uses the single RF detector circuit 240. Forexample, the control unit 250 may adjust the amplification in the firstuplink amplifier circuit 222 a, receive an indication of the power levelof the uplink signal from the RF detector circuit 240 by way of thesecond tap circuit 226 and the switch circuit 230. Based on theindication of the power level after adjusting the amplification, thecontrol unit 250 may further adjust the amplification applied to theuplink signal.

In general, the control unit 250 may adjust the amplification in theuplink and downlink amplification paths 210 and 220 based onconfigurations of the wireless communication network in which the signalbooster 200 is operating. For example, the signal booster 200 mayoperate to increase or decrease an amplification applied to the uplinkand downlink signals based on noise levels at an access point,government regulations, and wireless communication operator regulations,among others. In short, the signal booster 200 may apply any knownalgorithm or scheme to apply amplification to downlink and uplinksignals to enhance or otherwise make communications between the wirelessdevice and the access point function within the constraints of thewireless communications network in which the signal booster 200 isoperating. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,583,034 describes adjustingamplifications in uplink and downlink amplification paths in a signalbooster in a wireless network to provide noise floor, internaloscillation, external oscillation (e.g., port-to-port oscillations),and/or overload protection for a wireless network. The U.S. Pat. No.8,583,034 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

A description of the operation of the signal booster 200 with respect touplink and downlink signals follows. Downlink signals may be received bythe first antenna 204 from an access point and provided to the downlinkamplification path 210. The downlink amplification path 210 may applyfiltering and an amplification to the downlink signals based on thecharacteristics of the wireless communication network in which thesignal booster 200 is operating. The first tap circuit 216 may provide aportion of the downlink signals to the switch circuit 230. The switchcircuit 230 may be electrically coupling the first tap circuit 216 withthe RF detector circuit 240. Thus, the portion of the downlink signalsmay be provided to the RF detector circuit 240. The RF detector circuit240 may provide a power level of the downlink signals to the controlunit 250. The control unit 250 may adjust the amplification applied bythe downlink amplification path 210 accordingly.

Uplink signals may be received by the second antenna 208 from a wirelessdevice and provided to the uplink amplification path 220. The uplinkamplification path 220 may apply filtering and an amplification to theuplink signals based on the characteristics of the wirelesscommunication network in which the signal booster 200 is operating. Thesecond tap circuit 226 may provide a portion of the uplink signals tothe switch circuit 230. The switch circuit 230 may be electricallycoupling the first tap circuit 216 with the RF detector circuit 240.Thus, the portion of the uplink signals may not be provided to the RFdetector circuit 240. After some period, the switch circuit 230 maydisconnect the first tap circuit 216 and the RF detector circuit 240 andelectrically couple the second tap circuit 226 with the RF detectorcircuit 240, such that the portion of the uplink signals may be providedto the RF detector circuit 240. The RF detector circuit 240 may providea power level of the uplink signals to the control unit 250. The controlunit 250 may adjust the amplification applied by the uplinkamplification path 220 accordingly.

The switch circuit 230 may switch between electrically coupling thefirst tap circuit 216 with the RF detector circuit 240 and electricallycoupling the second tap circuit 226 with the RF detector circuit 240,periodically. In some embodiments, the switch circuit 230 may switchperiodically at regular or irregular intervals. For example, in someembodiments the switch circuit 230 may switch between electricallycoupling the first tap circuit 216 with the RF detector circuit 240 andelectrically coupling the second tap circuit 226 with the RF detectorcircuit 240 every 0.1, 1, 10, 20, 50, 100, or 500 milliseconds or atsome other interval.

Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the signal booster200 without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Forexample, in some embodiments, the signal booster 200 may includeadditional interface ports that are coupled to antennas that areconfigured to communicate with wireless devices. Alternately oradditionally, in some embodiments, the signal booster 200 may includemultiple downlink and uplink amplification paths that are eachconfigured to carry signals of different frequency bands of a wirelesscommunication network.

In some embodiments, the downlink and uplink amplifications paths 210and 220 may include a different number or order of the amplification andfiltering circuits than illustrated and described. Alternately oradditionally, the first and second tap circuits 216 and 226 may bepositioned in different locations within the downlink and uplinkamplifications paths 210 and 220, respectively.

FIG. 3 illustrates another example signal booster 300 with a multiplexdetector, arranged in accordance with at least some embodimentsdescribed in this disclosure. In some embodiments, the signal booster300 may be part of a wireless communication system, such as the wirelesscommunication system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 and may operate in asimilar manner as the signal booster 102 of FIG. 1.

The signal booster 300 may include a first interface port 303 and asecond interface port 307. The first interface port 303 may be coupledto a first antenna 304. The first antenna 304 may be configured toreceive downlink signals from a wireless communication access point andto transmit uplink signals to the wireless communication access point.The second interface port 307 may be coupled to a second antenna 308.The second antenna 308 may be configured to receive uplink signals froma wireless device and to transmit downlink signal to the wirelessdevice.

The signal booster 300 may also include a first duplexer 302 coupled tothe first interface port 303 and a second duplexer 306 coupled to thesecond interface port. The signal booster 300 may further include adownlink amplification path 310 coupled between the first and secondduplexers 302 and 306 and an uplink amplification path 320 coupledbetween the first and second duplexers 302 and 306. The signal booster300 may further include a first switch circuit 330, a second switchcircuit 332, a third switch circuit 334, a radio frequency detectorcircuit 340 (referred to herein as the RF detector circuit 340), and acontrol unit 350.

The downlink amplification path 310 may include a downlink amplifiercircuit 312 and a first tap circuit 316. The downlink amplifier circuit312 and the first tap circuit 316 may operate in a similar manner as thedownlink amplifier circuits 212 and the first tap circuit 216 of FIG. 2.In some embodiments, the downlink amplification path 310 may includemultiple downlink amplifier circuits and filter circuits similar to thedownlink amplification path 210 of FIG. 2.

The uplink amplification path 320 may include an uplink amplifiercircuit 322 and a second tap circuit 326. The uplink amplifier circuit322 and the second tap circuit 326 may operate in a similar manner theuplink amplifier circuits 222 and the second tap circuit 226 of FIG. 2.In some embodiments, the uplink amplification path 320 may includemultiple downlink amplifier circuits and filter circuits similar to theuplink amplification path 220 of FIG. 2.

The first switch circuit 330 may be coupled between the first tapcircuit 316 and the third switch circuit 334. The first switch circuit330 may be configured to electrically couple and decouple the first tapcircuit 316 from the third switch circuit 334. When the first switchcircuit 330 is electrically coupling the first tap circuit 316 and thethird switch circuit 334, the first switch circuit 330 may be referredto as closed. When the first switch circuit 330 is not electricallycoupling the first tap circuit 316 and the third switch circuit 334, thefirst switch circuit 330 may be referred to as open.

The first switch circuit 330 may be configured to pass a portion of adownlink signal from the first tap circuit 316 to the third switchcircuit 334 when the first switch circuit 330 is electrically couplingthe first tap circuit 316 to the third switch circuit 334. Likewise, thefirst switch circuit 330 may be configured to not pass a portion of adownlink signal from the first tap circuit 316 to the third switchcircuit 334 when the first switch circuit 330 is not electricallycoupling the first tap circuit 316 to the third switch circuit 334. Thefirst switch circuit 330 may continue to receive the portion of thedownlink signal from the first tap circuit 316 even when the first tapcircuit 316 is decoupled from the third switch circuit 334. In these andother embodiments, the first switch circuit 330 may ground the portionof the downlink signal.

In some embodiments, the first switch circuit 330 may be controlled bythe control unit 350. In these and other embodiments, the first switchcircuit 330 may electrically couple and decouple the first tap circuit316 from the third switch circuit 334 based on communications from thecontrol unit 350.

The second switch circuit 332 may be coupled between the second tapcircuit 326 and the third switch circuit 334. The second switch circuit332 may be configured to electrically couple and decouple the second tapcircuit 326 from the third switch circuit 334. When the second switchcircuit 332 is electrically coupling the second tap circuit 326 and thethird switch circuit 334, the second switch circuit 332 may be referredto as closed. When the second switch circuit 332 is not electricallycoupling the second tap circuit 326 and the third switch circuit 334,the second switch circuit 332 may be referred to as open.

The second switch circuit 332 may be configured to pass a portion of anuplink signal from the second tap circuit 326 to the third switchcircuit 334 when the second switch circuit 332 is electrically couplingthe second tap circuit 326 to the third switch circuit 334. Likewise,the second switch circuit 332 may be configured to not pass a portion ofan uplink signal from the second tap circuit 326 to the third switchcircuit 334 when the second switch circuit 332 is not electricallycoupling the second tap circuit 326 to the third switch circuit 334. Thesecond switch circuit 332 may continue to receive the portion of theuplink signal from the second tap circuit 326 even when the second tapcircuit 326 is decoupled from the third switch circuit 334. In these andother embodiments, the second switch circuit 332 may ground the portionof the uplink signal.

In some embodiments, the second switch circuit 332 may be controlled bythe control unit 350. In these and other embodiments, the second switchcircuit 332 may electrically couple and decouple the second tap circuit326 from the third switch circuit 334 based on communications from thecontrol unit 350.

The third switch circuit 334 may be coupled to the first switch circuit330, the second switch circuit 332, and the RF detector circuit 340. Thethird switch circuit 334 may be configured to switch between couplingthe RF detector circuit 340 to the first switch circuit 330 andelectrically coupling the RF detector circuit 340 to the second switchcircuit 332. When the first switch circuit 330 is providing the portionof the downlink signal to the third switch circuit 334, the third switchcircuit 334 may electrically couple the first switch circuit 330 and theRF detector circuit 340 to provide the portion of the downlink signal tothe RF detector circuit 340. When the second switch circuit 332 isproviding the portion of the uplink signal to the third switch circuit334, the third switch circuit 334 may electrically couple the secondswitch circuit 332 and the RF detector circuit 340 to provide theportion of the uplink signal to the RF detector circuit 340.

The RF detector circuit 340 may be coupled to the control unit 350 andthe third switch circuit 334 and configured to receive a portion of adownlink signal from the first tap circuit 316 and a portion of anuplink signal from the second tap circuit 326. In these and otherembodiments, the RF detector circuit 340 may be configured to detect apower level of the portions of the downlink and uplink signals. The RFdetector circuit 340 may provide the detected power levels to thecontrol unit 350. In some embodiments, the RF detector circuit 340 mayinclude a diode, a log detector, or some other radio frequency detectioncircuit components.

The control unit 350 may be configured to receive the detected powerlevels of the downlink and uplink signals in the signal booster 300.Based on the detected power levels of the downlink signals, the controlunit 350 may adjust an amplification gain applied to the downlink signalin the downlink amplification path 310. Based on the detected powerlevels of the uplink signals, the control unit 350 may adjust anamplification applied to the uplink signal in the uplink amplificationpath 320. In some embodiments, the control unit 350 may adjust anamplification applied to the uplink and downlink signals in analogousmanner as the control unit 250 adjusts amplification in the signalbooster 200 in FIG. 2.

In some embodiments, the control unit 350 may be implemented by anysuitable mechanism, such as a program, software, function, library,software as a service, analog, or digital circuitry, or any combinationthereof. For example, the control unit 350 may include a processor andmemory. The processor may include, for example, a microprocessor,microcontroller, digital signal processor (DSP), application-specificintegrated circuit (ASIC), a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), orany other digital or analog circuitry configured to interpret and/or toexecute program instructions and/or to process data. In someembodiments, the processor may interpret and/or execute programinstructions and/or process data stored in the memory.

The memory may include any suitable computer-readable media configuredto retain program instructions and/or data for a period of time. By wayof example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media may includetangible and/or non-transitory computer-readable storage media includingRandom Access Memory (RAM), Read-Only Memory (ROM), ElectricallyErasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM), Compact Disc Read-OnlyMemory (CD-ROM) or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage orother magnetic storage devices, flash memory devices (e.g., solid statememory devices), or any other storage medium which may be used to carryor store desired program code in the form of computer-executableinstructions or data structures and which may be accessed by ageneral-purpose or special-purpose computer. Combinations of the abovemay also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.Computer-executable instructions may include, for example, instructionsand data that cause a general-purpose computer, special-purposecomputer, or special-purpose processing device to perform a certainfunction or group of functions.

In some embodiments, the control unit 350 may be configured to controlthe first switch circuit 330 such that the first switch circuit 330 isonly closed when the third switch circuit 334 is electrically couplingthe first switch circuit 330 and the RF detector circuit 340. In theseand other embodiments, the first switch circuit 330 may be open untilafter the third switch circuit 334 electrically couples the first switchcircuit 330 and the RF detector circuit 340. The first switch circuit330 may also open before the third switch circuit 334 electricallydecouples the first switch circuit 330 and the RF detector circuit 340.In some embodiments, in an analogous manner, the control unit 350 may beconfigured to control the second switch circuit 332 such that the secondswitch circuit 332 is only closed when the third switch circuit 334 iselectrically coupling the second switch circuit 332 and the RF detectorcircuit 340.

The first and second switch circuits 330 and 332 configured as describedmay increase isolation between the uplink and downlink amplificationspaths 320 and 310. Increasing the isolation may reduce internaloscillations in the signal booster 300.

An example of the operation of the signal booster 300 follows. The firstand second switch circuits 330 and 332 may be open. The third switchcircuit 334 may electrically couple the first switch circuit 330 and theRF detector circuit 340. The first switch circuit 330 may close suchthat a portion of a downlink signal may be provided to the RF detectorcircuit 340. The first switch circuit 330 may open. The third switchcircuit 334 may electrically decouple the first switch circuit 330 andthe RF detector circuit 340 and electrically couple the second switchcircuit 332 and the RF detector circuit 340. The second switch circuit332 may close such that a portion of an uplink signal may be provided tothe RF detector circuit 340. The second switch circuit 332 may openbefore the third switch circuit 334 may electrically decouple the secondswitch circuit 332 and the RF detector circuit 340.

Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the signal booster300 without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Forexample, in some embodiments, the signal booster 300 may includeadditional interface ports that are coupled to antennas that areconfigured to communicate with wireless devices. Alternately oradditionally, in some embodiments, the signal booster 300 may includemultiple downlink and uplink amplification paths that are eachconfigured to carry signals of different frequency bands.

In some embodiments, the downlink and uplink amplifications paths 310and 320 may include a different number or order of amplification andfiltering circuits. Alternately or additionally, the first and secondtap circuits 316 and 326 may be positioned in different locations withinthe downlink and uplink amplifications paths 310 and 320, respectively.Alternately or additionally, the signal booster 300 may not includeeither the first switch circuit 330 or the second switch circuit 332 ormay include additional switch circuits.

FIG. 4A illustrates another example signal booster 400A with a multiplexdetector, arranged in accordance with at least some embodimentsdescribed in this disclosure. In some embodiments, the signal booster400A may be part of a wireless communication system, such as thewireless communication system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1.

The signal booster 400A may include a first interface port 403 and asecond interface port 407. The first interface port 403 may be coupledto a first antenna 404. The first antenna 404 may be configured toreceive downlink signals from a wireless communication access point andto transmit uplink signals to the wireless communication access point.The second interface port 407 may be coupled to a second antenna 408.The second antenna 408 may be configured to receive uplink signals froma wireless device and to transmit downlink signal to the wirelessdevice.

The signal booster 400 may also include a first duplexer 402 coupled tothe first interface port 403 and a second duplexer 406 coupled to thesecond interface port 407. The signal booster 400 may further include afirst-band booster 410 and a second-band booster 440 coupled between thefirst and second duplexers 402 and 406.

The first-band booster 410 may include a first first-band duplexer 412and a second first-band duplexer 414. The first-band booster 410 mayfurther include a first-band downlink amplification path 420 and afirst-band uplink amplification path 430, which each may be coupledbetween the first first-band duplexer 412 and the second first-bandduplexer 414.

The first-band downlink amplification path 420 may include a first tapcircuit 422 and a first amplification circuit 424. The first-band uplinkamplification path 430 may include a second tap circuit 432 and a secondamplification circuit 434. Each of the first and second tap circuits 422and 432 may be coupled to the switch circuit 470. The first tap circuit422 may be configured to provide a portion of the first-band downlinksignal to the switch circuit 470. The second tap circuit 432 may beconfigured to provide a portion of the first-band uplink signal to theswitch circuit 470.

The second-band booster 440 may include a first second-band duplexer 442and a second second-band duplexer 444. The second-band booster 440 mayfurther include a second-band downlink amplification path 450 and asecond-band uplink amplification path 460, which both may be coupledbetween the first second-band duplexer 442 and the second second-bandduplexer 444.

The second-band downlink amplification path 450 may include a third tapcircuit 452 and a third amplification circuit 454. The second-banduplink amplification path 460 may include a fourth tap circuit 462 and afourth amplification circuit 464. Each of the third and fourth tapcircuits 452 and 462 may be coupled to the switch circuit 470. The thirdtap circuit 452 may be configured to provide a portion of thesecond-band downlink signal to the switch circuit 470. The fourth tapcircuit 462 may be configured to provide a portion of the second-banduplink signal to the switch circuit 470.

The switch circuit 470 may be coupled to the first tap circuit 422, thesecond tap circuit 432, the third tap circuit 452, the fourth tapcircuit 462, and the RF detector circuit 472. The switch circuit 470 maybe configured to switch between electrically coupling the first tapcircuit 422, the second tap circuit 432, the third tap circuit 452, andthe fourth tap circuit 462 to the RF detector circuit 472. As a result,the switch circuit 470 may be configured to provide a portion of afirst-band downlink signal, a first-band uplink signal, a second-banddownlink signal, and a second-band uplink signal, one at a time, to theRF detector circuit 472.

In some embodiments, the switch circuit 470 may electrically couple thefirst tap circuit 422, the second tap circuit 432, the third tap circuit452, and the fourth tap circuit 462 to the RF detector circuit 472 forequal alternating periods. Alternately or additionally, the switchcircuit 470 may couple the first tap circuit 422, the second tap circuit432, the third tap circuit 452, and the fourth tap circuit 462 to the RFdetector circuit 472 for unequal alternating periods, random periods, orfollowing some other sequence.

In some embodiments, the switch circuit 472 may continue to receive aportion of the first-band and second-band uplink and downlink signalsfrom the first tap circuit 422, the second tap circuit 432, the thirdtap circuit 452, and the fourth tap circuit 462 even when the first tapcircuit 422, the second tap circuit 432, the third tap circuit 452, andthe fourth tap circuit 462 are not electrically coupled to the RFdetector circuit 472.

In some embodiments, the switch circuit 470 may be controlled by thecontrol unit 474. In these and other embodiments, the switch circuit 470may couple the RF detector circuit 472 to one of the first tap circuit422, the second tap circuit 432, the third tap circuit 452, and thefourth tap circuit 462 based on a command from the control unit 474.

The RF detector circuit 472 may be coupled to the control unit 474 andthe switch circuit 470 and configured to receive a portion of downlinkand uplink signals of the first and second bands at different times. Inthese and other embodiments, the RF detector circuit 472 may beconfigured to detect a power level of the portions of the downlink anduplink signals of the first and second bands. The RF detector circuit472 may provide the detected power levels to the control unit 474. Insome embodiments, the RF detector circuit 472 may include a diode, a logdetector, or some other radio frequency detection circuit components.

The control unit 474 may be configured to receive the detected powerlevels of the downlink and uplink signals of the first and second bandsin the signal booster 400A. Based on the detected power levels of thedownlink signals, the control unit 474 may adjust an amplificationapplied to the downlink and uplink signals of the first and second bandsby the signal booster 400A.

Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the signal booster400A without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Forexample, in some embodiments, the signal booster 400A may includeadditional interface ports that are coupled to antennas that areconfigured to communicate with wireless devices. Alternately oradditionally, in some embodiments, the signal booster 200 may includemultiple other band boosters.

In some embodiments, the downlink and uplink amplifications paths 420,430, 450, and 460 may include a different number or order of theamplification circuits than disclosed and illustrated. Alternately oradditionally, the first-band booster 410 and the second-band booster 440may include filter circuits. Alternately or additionally, the first tapcircuit 422, the second tap circuit 432, the third tap circuit 452, andthe fourth tap circuit 462 may be positioned in different locationswithin the first-band booster 410 and the second-band booster 440.Alternately or additionally, the signal booster 400A may includeadditional switches configured in a manner analogous to the first andsecond switch circuits 330 and 332 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4B illustrates another example signal booster 400B with a multiplexdetector, arranged in accordance with at least some embodimentsdescribed in this disclosure. In some embodiments, the signal booster400B may be part of a wireless communication system, such as thewireless communication system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1. The signalbooster 400B may be analogous to the signal booster 400A, expect thatthe signal booster 400B may include first and second switch circuits 480and 482 in place of the switch circuit 470 of signal booster 400A andmay include first and second RF detector circuits 484 and 486 in placeof the RF detector circuit 472 of signal booster 400A.

As illustrated in FIG. 4B, the first switch circuit 480 may be coupledto the second tap circuit 432, the fourth tap circuit 462, and the firstRF detector circuit 484. The first switch circuit 480 may be configuredto switch between electrically coupling the second tap circuit 432 andthe fourth tap circuit 462 to the first RF detector circuit 484. As aresult, the first switch circuit 480 may provide a portion of thefirst-band uplink signal and the second-band uplink signal, one at atime, to the first RF detector circuit 484.

In some embodiments, the first switch circuit 480 may electricallycouple the second tap circuit 432 and the fourth tap circuit 462 to thefirst RF detector circuit 484 for equal alternating periods. Alternatelyor additionally, the first switch circuit 480 may electrically couplethe second tap circuit 432 and the fourth tap circuit 462 to the firstRF detector circuit 484 for unequal alternating periods, random periods,or following some other sequence.

The first RF detector circuit 484 may be coupled to the control unit 490and the first switch circuit 480 and may be configured to receive aportion of uplink signals of the first and second bands at differenttimes. In these and other embodiments, the first RF detector circuit 484may be configured to detect a power level of the portions of the uplinksignals of the first and second bands. The first RF detector circuit 484may provide the detected power levels to the control unit 490. In someembodiments, the first RF detector circuit 484 may include a diode, alog detector, or some other radio frequency detection circuitcomponents.

The control unit 490 may be configured to receive the detected powerlevels of the uplink signals of the first and second bands in the signalbooster 400B. Based on the detected power levels of the uplink signal ofthe first band, the control unit 490 may adjust an amplification appliedto the uplink signals of the first band. Based on the detected powerlevels of the uplink signal of the second band, the control unit 490 mayadjust an amplification applied to the uplink signals of the secondband.

In some embodiments, the second switch circuit 482 may electricallycouple the first tap circuit 422 and the third tap circuit 452 to thesecond RF detector circuit 486 for equal alternating periods.Alternately or additionally, the second switch circuit 482 mayelectrically couple the first tap circuit 422 and the third tap circuit452 to the second RF detector circuit 486 for unequal alternatingperiods, random periods, or following some other sequence. In someembodiments, the first and second switch circuits 480 and 482 may switchat a similar or different rates, sequences, or periods.

The second RF detector circuit 486 may be coupled to the control unit490 and the second switch circuit 482 and may be configured to receive aportion of downlink signals of the first and second bands at differenttimes. In these and other embodiments, the second RF detector circuit486 may be configured to detect a power level of the portions of thedownlink signals of the first and second bands. The second RF detectorcircuit 486 may provide the detected power levels to the control unit490. In some embodiments, the second RF detector circuit 486 may includea diode, a log detector, or some other radio frequency detection circuitcomponents.

The control unit 490 may be configured to receive the detected powerlevels of the downlink signals of the first and second bands in thesignal booster 400B. Based on the detected power levels of the downlinksignal of the first band, the control unit 490 may adjust anamplification applied to the downlink signals of the first band. Basedon the detected power levels of the downlink signal of the second band,the control unit 490 may adjust an amplification applied to the downlinksignals of the second band.

The first switch circuit 480 handling switching between the uplinksignals and the second switch circuit 482 handling switching between thedownlink signals may provide further isolation between the uplink anddownlink amplification paths of the first-band booster 410 and thesecond-band booster 440 as compared to the single switch circuit 470 inthe signal booster 400A in FIG. 4A.

Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the signal booster400B without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Forexample, in some embodiments, the signal booster 400B may multiple otherband boosters. In these and other embodiments, the downlink paths of theother band boosters may be coupled to the second switch circuit 482 andthe uplink paths of the other band boosters may be coupled to the firstswitch circuit 480. Alternately or additionally, the signal booster 400Bmay include additional switches configured in a manner analogous to thefirst and second switch circuits 330 and 332 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an example method 500 of detecting signals in asignal booster, arranged in accordance with at least some embodimentsdescribed herein. The method 500 may be implemented, in someembodiments, by a signal booster, such as the signal booster 102, 200,300, 400A or 400B of FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4A, and 4B, respectively. Althoughillustrated as discrete blocks, various blocks may be divided intoadditional blocks, combined into fewer blocks, or eliminated, dependingon the desired implementation.

The method 500 may begin at block 502, where a first signal in a firstamplification path coupled between a first port and a second port of asignal booster may be amplified. In block 504, a second signal in asecond amplification path coupled between the first port and the secondport of the signal booster may be amplified.

In some embodiments, the first signal may be a first-direction signaland the first amplification path may be a first-direction amplificationpath. Alternately or additionally, the second signal may be asecond-direction signal and the second amplification path may be asecond-direction amplification path. In these and other embodiments, afirst-direction signal may be an uplink signal and a second-directionsignal may be a downlink signal. Alternately or additionally, afirst-direction signal may be a downlink signal and a second-directionsignal may be an uplink signal.

In some embodiments, the first signal may be a first first-directionsignal and the first amplification path may be a first first-directionamplification path. Alternately or additionally, the second signal maybe a second first-direction signal and the second amplification path maybe a second first-direction amplification path.

In block 506, a radio frequency detector may be coupled to the firstamplification path to detect a power level of the first signal. In block508, the radio frequency detector may be decoupled from the firstamplification path.

In block 510, the radio frequency detector may be coupled to the secondamplification path to detect a power level of the second signal. In someembodiments, decoupling the radio frequency detector from the firstamplification path and coupling the radio frequency detector to thesecond amplification path may occur while the first signal is amplifiedby the first amplification path.

One skilled in the art will appreciate that, for this and otherprocesses and methods disclosed in this disclosure, the functionsperformed in the processes and methods may be implemented in differingorder. Furthermore, the outlined steps and operations are only providedas examples, and some of the steps and operations may be optional,combined into fewer steps and operations, or expanded into additionalsteps and operations without detracting from the essence of thedisclosed embodiments.

For example, in some embodiments, the method 500 may further includecontrolling the amplification of the first signal in the firstamplification path based on the power level of the first signal. Inthese and other embodiments, the method 500 may further includecontrolling the amplification of the second signal in the secondamplification path based on the power level of the second signal.

Terms used herein and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies ofthe appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., theterm “including” should be interpreted as “including, but not limitedto,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” theterm “includes” should be interpreted as “includes, but is not limitedto,” etc.).

Additionally, if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation isintended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and inthe absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example,as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may containusage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” tointroduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should notbe construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by theindefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containingsuch introduced claim recitation to embodiments containing only one suchrecitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases“one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or“an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should be interpreted to mean “at least one”or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articlesused to introduce claim recitations.

In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitationis explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that suchrecitation should be interpreted to mean at least the recited number(e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without othermodifiers, means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations).Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “atleast one of A, B, and C, etc.” or “one or more of A, B, and C, etc.” isused, in general such a construction is intended to include A alone, Balone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, orA, B, and C together, etc. For example, the use of the term “and/or” isintended to be construed in this manner.

Further, any disjunctive word or phrase presenting two or morealternative terms, whether in the description of embodiments, claims, ordrawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities ofincluding one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. Forexample, the phrase “A or B” should be understood to include thepossibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”

All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended forpedagogical objects to aid the reader in understanding the invention andthe concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and areto be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recitedexamples and conditions. Although embodiments of the present disclosurehave been described in detail, it should be understood that variouschanges, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A signal booster, comprising: a first port; asecond port; a first uplink amplification path that includes a firstuplink tap circuit, the first uplink amplification path coupled betweenthe first port and the second port and configured to pass a first uplinksignal of a first frequency in a wireless communication network; asecond uplink amplification path that includes a second uplink tapcircuit, the second uplink amplification path coupled between the firstport and the second port and configured to pass a second uplink signalof a second frequency in the wireless communication network; an uplinkradio frequency detector circuit; an uplink switch circuit coupled tothe first uplink tap circuit, to the second uplink tap circuit, and theuplink radio frequency detector circuit, the uplink switch circuitconfigured to switch between coupling the uplink radio frequencydetector circuit to the first uplink tap circuit and coupling the uplinkradio frequency detector circuit to the second uplink tap circuit toprovide either a portion of the first uplink signal or a portion of thesecond uplink signal to the uplink radio frequency detector circuit; afirst downlink amplification path that includes a first downlink tapcircuit, the first downlink amplification path coupled between the firstport and the second port and configured to pass a first downlink signalof a third frequency in the wireless communication network; a seconddownlink amplification path that includes a second downlink tap circuit,the second downlink amplification path coupled between the first portand the second port and configured to pass a second downlink signal of afourth frequency in the wireless communication network; a downlink radiofrequency detector circuit; and a downlink switch circuit coupled to thefirst downlink tap circuit, to the second downlink tap circuit, and tothe downlink radio frequency detector circuit, the downlink switchcircuit configured to switch between coupling the downlink radiofrequency detector circuit to the first downlink tap circuit andcoupling the downlink radio frequency detector circuit to the seconddownlink tap circuit to provide either a portion of the first downlinksignal or a portion of the second downlink signal to the downlink radiofrequency detector circuit.
 2. The signal booster of claim 1, whereineach of the first uplink tap circuit, the second uplink tap circuit, thefirst downlink tap circuit, and the second downlink tap circuit includeone or more of a resistor, a splitter, a capacitor, and a directionalcoupler.
 3. The signal booster of claim 1, wherein the uplink radiofrequency detector circuit and the downlink radio frequency detectorcircuit each include one or more of a diode and a log detector.
 4. Thesignal booster of claim 1, further comprising a control unit coupled tothe uplink switch circuit, the downlink switch circuit, the uplink radiofrequency detector circuit, and the downlink radio frequency detectorcircuit, wherein the control unit is configured to control the uplinkswitch circuit and the downlink switch circuit, to receive a uplinkoutput from the uplink radio frequency detector circuit, and to receivea downlink output from the downlink radio frequency detector circuit. 5.The signal booster of claim 4, wherein the control unit is configuredto: adjust a first uplink amplification applied to the first uplinksignal in the first uplink amplification path and a second uplinkamplification applied to the second uplink signal in the second uplinkamplification path based on the uplink output from the uplink radiofrequency detector circuit, and adjust a first downlink amplificationapplied to the first downlink signal in the first downlink amplificationpath and a second downlink amplification applied to the second downlinksignal in the second downlink amplification path based on the downlinkoutput from the downlink radio frequency detector circuit.
 6. A signalbooster, comprising: a first port; a second port; a first amplificationpath that includes a first tap circuit, the first amplification pathcoupled between the first port and the second port and configured toamplify a first signal in a wireless communication network; a secondamplification path that includes a second tap circuit, the secondamplification path coupled between the first port and the second portand configured to amplify a second signal in the wireless communicationnetwork; a radio frequency detector circuit; and a switch circuitcoupled to the first tap circuit, to the second tap circuit, and to theradio frequency detector circuit, the switch circuit configured toswitch between coupling the radio frequency detector circuit to thefirst tap circuit and coupling the radio frequency detector circuit tothe second tap circuit to provide either a portion of the first signalor a portion of the second signal to the radio frequency detectorcircuit.
 7. The signal booster of claim 6, wherein each of the first tapcircuit and the second tap circuit include one or more a resistor, asplitter, a capacitor, and a directional coupler.
 8. The signal boosterof claim 6, wherein the radio frequency detector circuit includes one ormore of a diode and a log detector.
 9. The signal booster of claim 6,wherein the first signal is a first first-direction signal, the firstamplification path is a first first-direction amplification path, thesecond signal is a second first-direction signal and the secondamplification path is a second first-direction amplification path. 10.The signal booster of claim 6, wherein the first signal is an uplinksignal, the first amplification path is an uplink amplification path,the second signal is a downlink signal and the second amplification pathis a downlink amplification path.
 11. The signal booster of claim 10,wherein uplink signal and the downlink signal are part of a samecommunication frequency band in the wireless communication network. 12.The signal booster of claim 6, further comprising a control unit coupledto the switch circuit and the radio frequency detector circuit, thecontrol unit configured to control the switch circuit and to receive anoutput from the radio frequency detector circuit.
 13. The signal boosterof claim 12, wherein the control unit is configured to adjust a firstamplification applied to the first signal in the first amplificationpath and a second amplification applied to the second signal in thesecond amplification path based on the output from the radio frequencydetector circuit.
 14. The signal booster of claim 12, wherein the switchcircuit is a first switch circuit, the signal booster further comprisinga second switch circuit coupled between the first switch circuit and thefirst tap circuit, wherein the control unit is configured to control thesecond switch circuit such that the second switch circuit is closed onlywhen the first switch circuit is coupled to the first tap circuit. 15.The signal booster of claim 6, wherein the first amplification path is afirst uplink amplification path, the first tap circuit is a first uplinktap circuit, the second amplification path is a second uplinkamplification path, the second tap circuit is a second uplink tapcircuit, the switch circuit is a first switch circuit, and the radiofrequency detector circuit is a first radio frequency detector circuit,wherein the signal booster further comprises: a first downlinkamplification path that includes a first downlink tap circuit, the firstdownlink amplification path coupled between the first port and thesecond port; a second downlink amplification path that includes a seconddownlink tap circuit, the second downlink amplification path coupledbetween the first port and the second port; a second radio frequencydetector circuit; and a second switch circuit coupled to the firstdownlink tap circuit, to the second downlink tap circuit, and to secondradio frequency detector circuit, the second switch circuit configuredto switch between coupling the second radio frequency detector circuitto the first downlink tap circuit and coupling the second radiofrequency detector circuit to the second downlink tap circuit.
 16. Amethod, comprising: amplifying a first signal in a first amplificationpath coupled between a first port and a second port of a signal booster;amplifying a second signal in a second amplification path coupledbetween the first port and the second port of the signal booster;coupling a radio frequency detector to the first amplification path todetect a power level of the first signal; decoupling the radio frequencydetector from the first amplification path; and coupling the radiofrequency detector to the second amplification path to detect a powerlevel of the second signal.
 17. The method of claim 16, whereindecoupling the radio frequency detector from the first amplificationpath and coupling the radio frequency detector to the secondamplification path occurs while the first signal is amplified by thefirst amplification path.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the firstsignal is a first first-direction signal, the first amplification pathis a first first-direction amplification path, the second signal is asecond first-direction signal and the second amplification path is asecond first-direction amplification path.
 19. The method of claim 16,wherein the first signal is a first-direction signal, the firstamplification path is a first-direction amplification path, the secondsignal is a second-direction signal and the second amplification path isa second-direction amplification path.
 20. The method of claim 16,further comprising: controlling the amplification of the first signal inthe first amplification path based on the power level of the firstsignal; and controlling the amplification of the second signal in thesecond amplification path based on the power level of the second signal.